Surname Kelley - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Historical Components of Name Kelley Through Accurate iGENEA DNA Testing

Unraveling my roots with a DNA test through iGENEA, I delved deeper into the origin and historical facets of my surname, Kelley. Through a combination of autosomal DNA, Y-DNA, and mtDNA examinations, the test offered me intriguing insights into my familial lineage, my ethnic mix, and close ties to Irish heritage, fundamentally reshaping my perception of my surname.

E. Kelley

Kelley: What does the surname Kelley mean?

The surname Kelley is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic "O'Ceallaigh" which means "descendant of Ceallach". The personal name "Ceallach" is believed to mean either "bright-headed" or "troublesome". Hence, Kelley can be interpreted as "descendant of the bright-headed one" or "descendant of the troublesome one". It is very common in Ireland, particularly in the regions of Galway and Mayo, where many Kelleys have descended from Irish chieftains. The name Kelley has many variations including Kelly, Kellie, O'Kelley, and O'Kelly due to the anglicisation of the name over centuries. It is also worth noting that not all people with the surname Kelley will have Irish ancestry, as many families have adopted the name over time due to its popularity.

Kelley: Where does the name Kelley come from?

The last name Kelley is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó Ceallaigh, meaning "descendant of Ceallach." The name Ceallach itself is believed to mean "bright-headed." Like many Irish surnames, the name was anglicized during the 17th century, leading to various spellings such as Kelly, Kelley, Kellie, and so forth.

The Kelley or Kelly surname is particularly relevant to the historical province of Ui Maine, also known as Hy Many, in the central part of Ireland. It was originally a patronymic name and would signify that the bearer is a direct male descendant of Ceallach.

Today, the last name Kelley is commonly found in the United States, Ireland, and Britain. According to census data, Kelly (including Kelley) is one of the top 100 most common surnames in the United States. In Ireland, it is still among the top 10 most common surnames. Despite its Irish origins, the name spread to England and other parts of Britain as well, particularly following the Great Famine of Ireland in the 19th century, which caused a massive Irish diaspora.

Variations of the surname Kelley

The surname Kelley is of Irish origin and has many variants, spellings, and related surnames. Some of these include Kelly, Kellie, Kelli, Kelie, Kellay, Keley, Kealey, Kellegh, Kelleg, Kelliagh, and just Kell. These are all related to the original Irish Gaelic form, which is Ó Ceallaigh. Although the spelling differences seem minor, they each carry different geographical significances of where the surname became Anglicized.

The surname Kelley can sometimes be seen with a prefix "O'" or "Mc" which stand for the word "son" or "descendant" in Irish surnames, such as O'Kelley or McKelley. Overall, the most common alternate spelling is "Kelly", which is used in both Ireland and other English-speaking countries.

Even though these are direct variants or spellings of Kelley, the specific surname has several origin theories, one of which suggests it may be associated with the town of Killeshandra in County Cavan, Ireland. Another possibility is the association with a sept of the Southern Ui Neill who were lords of Magh Seola in what is now County Galway. So, other surnames from these regions may also have the same or similar origins to Kelley.

Famous people with the name Kelley

• Kate Kelley: Actress, filmmaker, and producer
• Dean Kelley: Composer and multi-instrumentalist
• Shawn Kelley: Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• Diana and Josephine Tourjee: American photographers
• Ziggy Kelley: Country musician
• David Kelley: Founder of IDEO and the Design Thinking movement
• William Dean Howells: Writer and social critic
• Jack Kelley: Football player
• Gabby Kelley: Discus thrower
• Dave Kelley: MLB pitcher
• Leo Kelley: Politician and musician
• Whitney Kelley: American professional beach volleyball player
• Alice Norris Kelley: American author
• Tobin Kelley: US poet
• Josephine Hart: Novelist
• Kitty Des Champs Kelley: Musician
• Yeardley Smith: Actress
• Mike Kelley: Musician and sculptor
• Meagan Kelley: Country music singer
• David Dunbar Buick: Auto pioneer and founder of Buick Motor Company

Other surnames

KelleciKelledyKelleherKellenKellenbrinkKellenersKellerKellerbauerKellerbaurKellererKellermannKellermannsKellermayerKellermayrKellermeierKellermeyerKellersKellertKellettKelleway